ALTAMONT – If you went to a demolition derby decades ago, you’d have seen drivers duking it out with massive old cars rescued from junk yards or slow deaths from rust on farm backlots.
Those derbies were brutal mechanical boxing matches with stripped-down, all-metal cars, which during their driving days could put a solid dent in a huge tree and not require a tow truck. Crunching opponents in the derby ring was the goal and provided an adrenaline rush for shade tree mechanics putting together derby cars for fun, bragging rights and prize money.
But the demo derby circuit has changed with a strong emphasis on safety and the use of technology, said Ryan Bigley, one of the pit crew inspecting the demo entries entered before the event Saturday night at Effingham County Fair.
“We’re inspecting for the safety of the entries. And we want them built to the rules we put out for each derby,” said Bigley, who has been involved in demo derbies either as driver or pit crew inspector for 25 years. “There has been an evolution in the way cars are built because there is more technology involved.”
When Bigley started with demolition derbies he, like many drivers, checked out junk yards to find vehicles or equipment. “Now, you have motors built specifically for demolition derbies,” he said.
Social media has also partnered with good old-fashioned word-of -mouth to help drivers find what they need.
“There is a large demo derby community out there. We’re all friends. We would have sold out long ago if we weren’t friends. We get together and talk about everything, not just the derbies,” said Zach Harrell of Xenia, as his battered silver 2006 Lincoln Town Car was being inspected by the pit crew. Harrell has many cars in line for derbies, many acquired with help from the derby social network.
Regarding safety concerns, Harrell said the competition gets rough when the green flag goes down but drivers work hard to avoid injuring each other. There are specific rules to prevent injuries such as a ban on striking a vehicle on the driver’s side door. Crash helmets are naturally required equipment, but Harrell wears a fire jacket when driving as well.
The type of vehicles has changed through the years. On Saturday, the Effingham County Demolition Derby opened with trucks and mini cars (yes, the models you and your siblings piled into for drives to school or ballgames) banging each other until the last one is still moving. Then came the battles between the full-sized cars.
Many of the vehicles competing Saturday looked like they had escaped from a scrapyard compactor. They can have long lives in the derbies.
“It depends on luck how long a vehicle can keep going and how you drive it and how the equipment holds up,” Bigley said.
Brandyn Easley of Salem said his 1976 Impala had survived four derbies this year, and he has a 1989 Lincoln Town Car that has competed in 18 derbies. It might be time to retire the Lincoln, Easley said with a grin.
The demolition derby at Altamont always draws a huge audience, which includes many relatives and friends of the drivers. There are loud cheers when vehicles hit hard and literally bounce up from the ground. Those impacts can produce steam or smoke from the radiator or engine. That is why firefighters and emergency medical crews from different communities are present at demo derbies.
Drivers try to avoid getting cornered like a boxer against the ropes in a fight ring. They will keep turning to get in position for a big hit or to avoid one. A watered-down track causes mud to fly into the stands as the entries spin about. That is why spectators near the concrete barriers have clear plastic sheets to avoid being splattered, while still seeing all the action.
Parts of the derby vehicles might fall off after different collisions. On Saturday, the Eubanks family kicked into gear when a muffler had dropped on the track. Debris must be removed immediately.
Standing by the east side concrete barrier wall, Pit crew member Shawn Eubanks of Cobden waved his red flag to temporarily stop the action and then his daughter, Shawnah Eubanks, ran out for retrieving the muffler. She did it in a manner of seconds.
Shawn was a derby driver for many years and retired three years ago. Shawnah is now a derby driver.
“I did it forever and she wanted to do it, too,” Shawn said, later referring to his daughter jokingly as a “Derby Queen.” With her quick reflexes, and wisdom from her dad, Shawnah could become a demo derby champion.
Demo derbies used to be males-only, but that has changed as well. It’s just another part of the evolution in a sport driven by a love for crunching cars.
Demolition Derby Winners
The top-three finishers in the different derby classes included in order of finish:
Mini-vans: Brycen Russell, Cole Schafer and Blaine Murray
Trucks: Justin Kenter, Jason Kenter, and Ryan Koester
MWFA mini car: Chance Walls, Tanner Loy, and Ryan Sanford
All-years semi stock: Brandon Easley. Correy Budde, and Jake Helmuth, Tyler Powless and Terry Bannick Jr.
Weld mini car: Rodney Will, Brayden Will, Cory Stumpf, August Thien, and Paul Reid Jr.
Stockish full size: Joe Cripe, Matt Fristscher, Kirby Manuel, Zach Harrell and Brandon Easley
The drivers received monetary prizes and trophies. A “Punisher” or aggressive driving award was also offered in each class. Tri-Power Towing was a major sponsor of the event and had some towing duties off the track as well.